Kansas vs Oklahoma State: Player Ratings to the Theme of Famous Cowboys

Giddy-up! Kansas over Oklahoma State means a Cowboy themed player ratings

Author:
Derek Noll
Publish date:
Jan 31, 2024 11:27 AM EST

In this story:

Looking back over the several years that I’ve written these pieces, it’s hard for me to imagine that I’ve never written one about cowboys. After all, Kansas plays Oklahoma State at least every year and for the past several years, twice in the regular season. So, it’s time to break out the cowboys theme once and for all.

Not mentioned: Woody from Toy Story (wanted to make the ratings fair after all) and while I could’ve relied heavily on OSU players or Dallas Cowboys, I narrowed those fields as well.

If you don’t know how we rate the players, take a look at the criteria. If you do, feel free to skip using the table of contents.

5 Stars: Out of this world performance. This is a hard to achieve rating and is only reserved for the most impressive or impressionable performances.

4.5 Stars: Very strong performance, packed the stat sheet, provided undeniable intangibles.

4 Stars: A strong performance that falls just short of the standards above.

3.5 Stars: Above average performance, perhaps stands out in one category or one aspect of the game.

3 Stars: Average performance. Also could be a very strong game in one aspect but a very poor game in another such as 15 points but seven turnovers. Could also be that the player played, did their job, but didn't do much spectacularly.

2 Stars: Below average performance, or we simply have higher expectations for the player on this particular night.

1 Star: Rare, but if a player has a stinker in all aspects.

Memorial No Star: Named after former KU walk-on Chris Teahan and is awarded to the player(s) who didn't have enough playing time to contribute or whose performance isn't worthy of a rating for another reason.

5 Stars: Clint Eastwood

The quintessential cowboy movie star and the actor that most people associate with the genre of westerns, Clint Eastwood is the obvious five star. The man with no name, played by Eastwood, featured in four films, most famously in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

No one was a five star.

4.5 Stars: Barry Sanders

Oklahoma State Cowboy and Detroit Lion legend Barry Sanders is inarguably one of the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL. He led the league in rushing on four occasions and it truly was a pleasure to watch Sanders dodge defenders. It’s a shame that he never played on a truly great team, but more power to him for retiring on his own terms after only ten years in the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Dajuan Harris set the tone early, although much of Jayhawk Nation might not have seen his first five points and barely saw his seventh point as the network was making the transition to Allen Fieldhouse. But with Kevin McCullar out, Dajuan stepped up, finishing with 12 points and seven assists and only one turnover. Plus, he sat for nearly ten minutes, the equivalent to taking a three day weekend for Dajuan.

KJ Adams was a perfect seven of seven from the field and two for two from the free throw line. Add in six assists and his versatility was on full display. KU’s hype man was at it again, flexing after key defensive plays early in the game and of course, on his patented alley-oops.

4 Stars: Annie Oakley and Bill Pickett

These two were breaking barriers in a world dominated by white men. Annie Oakley was known for her sharpshooting and Bill Pickett broke the color barrier by being the first African-American in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

With no McCullar on the court in this one, it was almost an automatic bet that Hunter Dickinson would have a nice game. He finished the night with 18 points and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes which is ideal leading into the Houston game on Saturday. Hunter did hoist up quite a few shots, 14 overall, knocking down eight.

This is the Elmarko Jackson that we’ve wanted to see all season long. Ten points on four of eight shooting and the poise to dictate play and not let it dictate him. That was key to what all Jayhawk fans hope will be a turning point game from the heralded freshman.

3.5 Stars: Emmitt Smith

The Dallas Cowboys of the mid 1990s were a force in the NFL and running back Emmitt Smith was a huge part of their success. He won three Super Bowls in Dallas, taking away the MVP award in SB XXVIII. He led the NFL in rushing four times and was rightfully inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Eleven points and six rebounds that felt like more is the stat line for Johnny Furphy. Because others stepped up in this one, the freshman from Down Under didn’t have to have a show out performance to be good in this one.

Jamari McDowell played within himself in this one and was rewarded with some late baskets. He had a nice and-one play and a three ball late in the contest.

3 Stars: Wild Bill, Billy the Kid, Buffalo Bill, etc

Actual cowboys and outlaws make the list as the three star entry because most of them are notorious for some less than savory behavior.

Parker Braun grabbed six rebounds in ten minutes of Dickinson relief. Would be higher if he played more.

Nick Timberlake only shot 25% from the floor in this one and that knocks him down a half star. He nailed his first three and it felt like this may be a breakout game for the Towson transfer, but he made just one of seven from the floor after that initial three.

Michael Jankovich “can shoot the ball” according to Fran. He nailed his only three point attempt of the evening.

I was going to send Wilder Evers to Memorial No Star land until he grabbed an alley oop pass and made a very athletic play to 1) get the ball and 2) finish the play. With KU’s upcoming schedule, this might be the last time we see the walk-ons this season.

2 Stars: John Wayne

For one, I don’t really think this guy is much of an actor. And after his acting days were over, it came out that he was quite a racist. Not uncommon for his era, but still disappointing nonetheless.

No one was a two.